Warnings of unrest from increasing inequality ignored

The rich get richer and the poor get looting. Surprised millionaire politicians are forced to return from their hols and recall parliament as riots break out after decades of increasing social deprivation.

Rioting, looting and burning breaks out in London and major UK cities in a climate of cuts and austerity for all except the rich. In a country where the police have lost the trust of the people from shootings and deaths in custody, repression of legitimate protest, corruption and press collaboration, 10% of the richest citizens are now 100 times better off than the poorest.

The OECD's Going for Growth 2010 report states that social mobility in the UK is worse than any other developed country. Crime and poor health predominate in unequal societies. Poverty and social exclusion has steadily increased since Thatcher but successive governments have done little to help generations of young people without jobs, opportunities or any belief in having a stake in society, despite decades of research and media warnings.

Riots spread in a matter of hours across the country for the third night in a row. This, although sparked by the death of Mark Duggan by police, has been building up for many months. Brutal austerity measures, spending cuts to every public service, rising unemployment, attacks on education, police tactics on demonstrations and the increased use of stop and search has meant that anger towards this government has heated up to boiling point.

It's no surprise events have played out like they have. The government cannot continue with their spending cuts and expect people to sit back and take it. In fact even Nick Clegg predicted riots if Cameron's planned spending cuts took place! Click here to watch video.

Coalition of Resistance along with Black Activists Rising Against the Cuts have organised a public meeting to discuss the connection between recession and the riots and what we can do about it.